Hannah Nolan (13) was invited to Bathgate Fire Station after firefighters praised the quick thinking teenager who rescued man trapped under van

Special guests Hannah wth pal Aimee Rodgers and firefighters from Bathgate Fire Station

A teenager who helped rescue a man trapped under a van was given VIP treatment by firefighters who praised her quick thinking.

Hannah Nolan (13) was hailed a hero for rushing to the aid of an injured man in Whitburn after hearing his cries for help.

He had been working on the van when an accident left his leg trapped between the van and a fence post and had been stuck for around an hour, calling for help, when Hannah finally heard him.

She immediately dialled 999 and was later praised by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for her quick thinking.

As a thank you Hannah was invited to Bathgate Fire Station for a guided tour.

Station Manager Alex Hume, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, praised Hannah but also took the opportunity to urge the public to dial 999 in an emergency and not assume someone else has done so.

Alex said: “It was my pleasure to invite Hannah along to Bathgate Fire Station to meet with the crews who attended this incident in which she played a vital role.

“Hannah brought along her mother and best friend to receive a guided tour of the station and view all the equipment that is carried upon the appliances whilst having the opportunity to get a few photographs taken.

“I had initially been told about this incident by the officers who had responded, all spoke very highly of the character and calm nature displayed by this young person, especially whilst dealing with quite a traumatic experience. Hannah ensured that the appropriate services were mobilised to this incident and stayed in attendance to assist with the casualty who had been trapped for almost an hour.

“I would take this opportunity to highlight that on occasion, Emergency Services can be delayed responding to incidents, simply because no one has thought to call us, often mistakenly thinking that someone else has made contact.

“I would encourage all members of the public upon discovering an emergency situation to immediately dial 999, and ask for the appropriate Emergency Service without assuming this has already been done. Incredibly we have had occasions where emergencies have appeared on Social Media sites before we even knew about them. This can cost precious seconds when time is of the essence.”